CHEVROLET SPARK HATCHBACK READER REVIEWS

My car

I drove this car as part of a purchasing 'test drive.' The sales person was keen to make the most of the cars ability and was scathing about my comparisons with my wifes i10. Simple things like a clutch rest in the i10 make it more comfortable to drive on a trip.

I managed to find a fast road with a steep climb on it and this showed up the slight short comings of the engine's performance and the noise it makes getting up a 850' rise in just under a mile. Downhill was more composed and I followed this with a section of unclassified but smooth road again with a climb but on a gentler gradient allowing the testing of the engines flexibility which was better and sounded less fraught. The ride was fair and without any unpleasant crashing and banging over the odd drain cover or worn shoulder.

Overall the Spark is reasonable, it will keep the rain off and get you to work; but so does a bus. How it will weather in the medium term remains to be seen. For less money you can have the much better and more economical i10, and for the moment that is where the smart money is spent if the number on the road are a measure of their popularity.

My car

This car has been a very good buy. We bought it to replace a 09 Ford Fiesta as she was proving far too costly to run, and this car is both beautiful and affordable. I think the professional review's complaints about engines are unfounded, They seem to want a super car from a town vehicle. Sure, it won't win a Formula 1 race but shes peppy and willing around town and can happily keep up with motorway traffic. Theres even a little juice for motorway overtaking. The plastics in the interior are durable rather than appealing, but its all arranged solidly and seems very durable. I think the review is very harsh on this car, as it proves to be a capable, fun and very pretty little car.